Attempts to develop a better understanding of the interaction between the compensation environment and injured workers suggest that the compensation environment may negatively impact on the psychological wellbeing of injured workers. This study offers a complementary perspective to contemporary quantitative studies exploring the psychosocial aspects of workplace injury and disability, and contributes to the growing body of qualitative data on the interaction of personal and environmental factors influencing recovery from work injury. The beliefs and experience of injured workers, as explored through ethnographic interviewing, offer insight to the social meaning and relationships comprised in the compensation environment and reveal the pervasive impact of workplace injury across personal, social and occupational spheres. Poor claims administration and hostile interpersonal interactions are identified as particular sources of frustration and discontent for injured workers. Strong themes of perceived injustice emerge as a potentially valuable area for future research in improving the outcomes of compensable injury.

Aim: The aim of this study was to provide new insight into the factors that affect work participation by those with cognitive deficits following an acquired brain injury. Method: The study had a qualitative exploratory design, with three focus-group interviews used to collect data. The first group comprised workers with experience of cognitive deficits after a traumatic brain injury (TBI), anoxic brain damage and stroke, the second group professionals from specialist levels of social security service and the third professionals from specialised health care services. Transcribed interviews were analysed using a conventional approach to content analysis. Major findings: A broad range of factors affected work participation. Personal factors, the psychosocial adaptation process, injury-related consequences as well as factors in the working environment were found to inhibit work participation. Acceptance of a different level of functioning and a new role in working life was an important but time-consuming process. Significant working-environment barriers were workplace demands, the attitudes of employers and colleagues, complicated information, excessive bureaucracy, too little practice before going back to work and physical barriers. Optimism and being determined were found to be particularly important facilitating personal factors. Important resources provided by the working environment were social support, time-related flexibility, relevant tasks and accommodations.

This desktop review has been conducted, from the reviewers' perspective, to evaluate the merits, advantages and disadvantages of adopting the 6th edition of the American Medical Association (AMA6) Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. The reviewers do not make any recommendation as to whether AMA6 should or should not be adopted by any particular jurisdiction, but rather provide comment from the perspective of a critical but constructive appraisal of published material. The observations reported represent the opinions of the reviewers, based on their appraisal of selected sections of AMA4, AMA5 and AMA6 and the associated literature. AMA6 has become surrounded by considerable controversy. At the time of review, at least two jurisdictions in the United States have voted against adoption of AMA6. While the paradigm shift away from the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Impairment, Disability and Handicap (ICIDH) framework to the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework has attempted to ‘move with the times’, and AMA6 has attempted to reach higher levels of internal consistency and interrater and intrarater reliability, the methods used to achieve a radical change in the Guides has come under criticism. It is quite difficult to distinguish between speculative and substantive criticism, because of paucity or obscurity in both source documents and subsequent commentary. A range of concerns have been identified.

An estimated 14,000 persons who are deaf (PWAD) reside in Barbados, many of whom are believed to live below the poverty line. Data on the employment status of PWAD in Barbados is sparse; this research seeks to fill a gap in the literature and inform social policy. Qualitative methodologies were utilized to understand how participation in the labour market influences the lives of PWAD in Barbados. The current research seeks to inquire into the phenomenological field of five persons who are deaf through a multiple case study strategy using focus group interviews. Data were analysed to derive themes common across participants and ecological systems theory was used to understand how PWAD cope in the world of work. The following research questions are addressed in an attempt to capture the unique perspectives of PWAD: (1) What are the experiences of persons who are deaf and employed? and (2) How does having a disability impact the lives of PWAD? The data revealed a relationship between environmental stressors such as attitudinal barriers and discrimination in the workplace and their psychological and behavioural impact in the form of resignation, frustration, isolation and creative coping among PWAD.